Tata Steel Masters: Anand crushes Caruana to join Giri in lead

By Our Chess Correspondent

Wijk Aan Zee, Jan 16 (PTI) Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand crushed USA's Fabiano Caruana in the third round to join Dutchman Anish Giri in lead on 2.5 points at the Tata Steel Masters Chess tournament here.

For Anand, it was his second victory in three days as he looks for a record sixth title here.

Caruana went for the Petroff defense, an opening he had used in round one also. Anand went for a topical variation full of complexities and it was in the early middle game that Caruana reacted strongly on the 16th move.

"I was very surprised," Anand said in the post-game chat adding, "I thought it didn't call for such extreme measures."

In the moves that followed, Caruana gave up two minor pieces for a rook and a pawn and even though the position remained a bit unclear, the American clearly did not like what was happening.

It was on the 28th move that Caruana shut his remaining chances. A pawn capture led to a lost position.

"Something went wrong in his calculation, he went down a very forced line and his calculation just missed the mark," Anand said.

As it happened in the game, a pretty queen sacrifice on the 42nd move sealed the fate of the game.

After finishing third in the previous edition, Grandmaster B Adhiban clearly seems to be struggling here. The Indian suffered his second defeat in as many days going down to Gawain Jones of England.

With ten rounds still to come in the 14-players, 13- rounds event, top rated Magnus Carlsen of Norway, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and Jones share the third spot with two points apiece.

In the challengers section being held simultaneously, Vidit Gujrathi continued his impressive run and outclassed Amin Baseem of Egypt. It was a one-sided affair as Gujrathi won a piece and then had to showcase some routine technique.

Gujrathi remained as the joint leader in this section along-side Anton Korobov of Ukraine on 2.5 points. D Harika played out her third draw in the event, signing peace with Erwin L'Ami of Holland.

Results round 3 Masters: Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 1.5) drew with Yifan Hou (Chn, 0.5); Peter Svidler (Rus, 1.5) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 2.5); Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 2) drew with Wei Yi (Chn, 1); Gawain Jones (Eng, 2) beat B Adhiban (Ind, 0.5); V Anand (Ind, 2.5) beat Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 1); Wesley So (Usa, 1.5) drew with Sergey Karjakin(Rus, 1.5); Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Aze, 2) drew with Maxim Matlakov (Rus, 1).

Challengers: Anton Korobov (Ukr, 2.5) beat Benjamin Bok (Ned, 1); Olga Girya (Rus, 1.5) drew with Jeffery Xiong (Usa, 1.5); Jorden Van Foreest (Ned, 1.5) lost to Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 1); Aryan Tari (Nor, 1.5) drew with Dmitry Gordievsky (Rus, 2); Michal Krasenkow (Pol, 1) drew with Lucas Van Foreest (Ned, 1.5); Amin Bassem (Egy, 1) lost to Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (Ind, 2.5); D Harika (Ind, 1.5) drew with Erwin L'Ami (Ned, 1.5)